Ft. Collins, CO to Elkhart, IN.

I routinely take US-36 across Missouri, I-72 to I-57 to US-24. Where I go from there depends on whether I'm headed to Western Michigan, Central Michigan, or SE Michigan, family in all three places. For a couple years I was routing around closures on US-24 for roadwork (and part of last year for flooding near the Illinois/Indiana state line), but when it is open it is a great route.

Hannibal is always a fun stop for me, eastbound when the days are short it can be an overnight, westbound from south central Michigan it might be a lunch stop (if I didn't waste a lot of time poking around in RV country).

How you get from Ft Collins to Saint Joseph would be a mystery for me, I'm coming up from the south.

I am so grateful for that fantastic route. Thanks again. Betsy.

Thom02099 wrote:

mittshel wrote:
Want to go from Fort Collins to Elkhart and not go on 80 or 70. Any ideas? Thank you. Betsy.

I've done that trip more than a few times (actually to Stroh/Big Turkey Lake, IN) and prefer NOT to use I-80 or 70.

From Fort Collins, go down to Loveland and take US 34 east through Greeley, stay on US 34 to where it joins up with I-76 (briefly), to Brush and then continue on US 34 east. I usually drop down on US 385 to US 36 and then take that all the way across Kansas and in to Missouri. Good 2-lane road in Kansas, not a lot of traffic; good 4 lane road all the way through Missouri.

At Hannibal, MO I take I-72 east across Illinois to Champaign, then north on I-57 toward Chicago. I get off on US 24 at Gilman, IL and take that east into Indiana and stay on it all the way to Fort Wayne, IN. In your case, you don't want to go that far east, so you could take US 31 north (east of Logansport, IN) up to South Bend.

For me, this is a much better way to go, avoids major cities all the way (I hate driving around Chicagoland area), and you can make decent time this way. It can be done in 2 days of solid driving, or 3 days of more relaxing driving. I've done it both ways and prefer 3 days.

Thom,

I knew our paths had crossed - Did that one to Wakarusa, at least ten times, as we would go out and Back to Colorado. My TS Coach was built there and I made many a trip back and forth as we got everything fixed. 24 to 31 to 6 to 19.

Great route. avoid Chicago and truck traffic.

Follow Thom's advice for a Good - Smooth - Enjoyable route.

JMHO,

^^^That's the way to go.

mittshel wrote:
Want to go from Fort Collins to Elkhart and not go on 80 or 70. Any ideas? Thank you. Betsy.

I've done that trip more than a few times (actually to Stroh/Big Turkey Lake, IN) and prefer NOT to use I-80 or 70.

From Fort Collins, go down to Loveland and take US 34 east through Greeley, stay on US 34 to where it joins up with I-76 (briefly), to Brush and then continue on US 34 east. I usually drop down on US 385 to US 36 and then take that all the way across Kansas and in to Missouri. Good 2-lane road in Kansas, not a lot of traffic; good 4 lane road all the way through Missouri.

At Hannibal, MO I take I-72 east across Illinois to Champaign, then north on I-57 toward Chicago. I get off on US 24 at Gilman, IL and take that east into Indiana and stay on it all the way to Fort Wayne, IN. In your case, you don't want to go that far east, so you could take US 31 north (east of Logansport, IN) up to South Bend.

For me, this is a much better way to go, avoids major cities all the way (I hate driving around Chicagoland area), and you can make decent time this way. It can be done in 2 days of solid driving, or 3 days of more relaxing driving. I've done it both ways and prefer 3 days.